TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Sports Council (KONI) head Marciano Norman targeted Indonesia to reach the top 30 at the 2024 Olympics in Paris with the support of medals from four leading sports.

“The leading sports such as badminton, weightlifting, archery, and shooting are expected to contribute medals so that Indonesia can reach the top 30,” Marciano said after inaugurating the West Papua KONI committee in Manokwari, on Thursday, February 23.

He said Indonesia ranked in the 50s from the results of the Tokyo Olympics, so serious and measured work was vital to raise the ranking.

“If we are in the top 30, we can expect to be in the top 10 in the 2032 Olympics and then in 2044, we can be ranked fifth in the world,” he pinned hopes.

The retired lieutenant general also said that it would be impossible to achieve the target without the support of Papuan athletes and the participation of the regional KONI to carry out good coaching.

“So KONI must seriously look for top athletes to coach and lead them to become champions,” Marciano underlined.

As widely known, a number of national athletes from the sports of weightlifting and athletics are mostly West Papuan athletes.

He added that the Aceh-North Sumatra National Sports Week (PON) could also be used as a venue for athletes throughout the archipelago to compete before heading to higher events such as the SEA Games and the Olympics.

“Regions must prepare themselves for the 2024 PON in Aceh and North Sumatra. The upcoming PON will also be the first to be participated in by 48 provinces in Indonesia,” said Marciano.

NURDIN SALEH

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